Pointers to Help You Find the Right Bicycle

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Pointers to Help You Find the Right Bicycle

There is no shortage of reasons for choosing to cycle. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. Others choose it because riding a bike is better for the environment than travelling in a car or using public transportation.

And others still are riding simply because they love to ride. If you fall into these categories or are in one of your own and you are shopping for a new bike, take the time to read up on some of the things you should know before buying. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. Contained hereafter are some hints and tips you can use to pick the bicycle that is perfect for you.

It goes without saying that choosing the correctly sized bike is of utmost importance. Begin by measuring your inseam. Simply measure through your inner leg from your groin to the bottom of your foot to find out your inseam. You should ideally be able to place both feet on the ground when sitting in on your bike. This is for safety more than anything else, if your brakes should fail you will not be able to easily stop the bike otherwise.

For road bikes take away 9 inches from the read here total of your inseam. The size of the tires a road bike uses are the reason for this. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. For a mountain bike you will need to take 12" away from your total inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. These tires are designed to handle rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. Mountain bikes can travel on city pavement but that is not what they are designed to do.

The angle of your seat (also called the saddle) is also important. There are several angles you can tilt your seat at. Some cyclists are more comfortable in a slightly forward position, and therefore, find a completely flat seat inappropriate for them. Continue to adjust your seat until it feels the best for you. You could leave it as it is, but the narrow part of the seat might not allow you to rest comfortably in a forward leaning position.

How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. If you intend to use your bike a lot, perhaps as your main method of transport, it is important you keep this in mind. You need to feel safe but also comfortable on your bike, otherwise you won't enjoy riding it!